Tangerine Vocabulary words

predator

Sentence: And mixed in with it, I could hear a sound, a predator's sound. Definition: an animal that naturally preys on others.

decoy

Sentence: Dad continued talking in this manner throughout dinner, pounding home his theme to Erik—that Erik had contributed big-time to the victory, that Erik had actually made victory possible by being the decoy. Definition: lure or entice (a person or animal) away from an intended course, typically into a trap.

stance

Sentence: Erik got into his kicking stance. Definition: the way in which someone stands, especially when deliberately adopted (as in baseball, golf, and other sports); a person's posture.

complicated

Sentence: He finally said, "Hey, uh, Fisher... I don't think lightning is that complicated. I don't think it knows anything about anything." Definition: difficult to analyze or understand

eclipse

Sentence: I can't put all of the details in order now, but it became clear to me later that, for some reason, the big kids on the school bus were calling me Eclipse Boy. Definition: an obscuring of the light from one celestial body by the passage of another between it and the observer or between it and its source of illumination.

thoroughly

Sentence: I heard Dad promise the commissioner that "every new construction site will be thoroughly inspected and regulated from now on." Definition: in an exhaustive manner

elated

Sentence: I was elated, and I wasn't budging. Definition: exultantly proud and joyful; in high spirits

fascinated

Sentence: I was really fascinated as I prowled through the dark, partitioned rooms of the exhibits. Definition: to be interested in something

brawl

Sentence: It was an open brawl out there now between some of our guys and some of theirs, but the referee did not blow his whistle. Definition: fight or quarrel in a rough or noisy way.

menacing

Sentence: It was only a matter of time until she found the range and scored, in spite of those menacing fullbacks. Definition: suggesting the presence of danger; threatening.

attempt

Sentence: It will be Arthur's backside featured in the newspapers, holding the ball for Erik Fisher's fifty-yard field-goal attempts. Definition: The act of trying something

muck fire

Sentence: Muck fire, ma'am. That field probably got hit by lightning last night. Stirred up the muck fire. Definition: A muck fire ignites from the burning brush above and lightning strikes. Enough oxygen penetrates the parched, loosely packed peat, causing under ground embers to smolder for weeks.

physical

Sentence: Oh we always have physical education outdoors, on one of our fields. Definition: of or relating to the body as opposed to the mind.

ferocious

Sentence: Paul's soccer jersey is more ferocious-looking than Erik's football jersey, which is light blue with only the name "Seagulls" on the front. Definition: savagely fierce, cruel, or violent.

ovation

Sentence: She sent one of the sixth graders in for Maya, who got a loud ovation from the fans. Definition: a sustained and enthusiastic show of appreciation from an audience, especially by means of applause.

portable

Sentence: Stepping carefully, we sloshed and fought our way through the mud to Portable 19. Definition: easily or conveniently transported

puzzled

Sentence: The story puzzled me then, and it puzzles me now. Definition: unable to understand; perplexed.

snarl

Sentence: They bounced off each other and squared off in a snarling, karate-kicking scene, right above my head. Definition: (of an animal such as a dog) make an aggressive growl with bared teeth.

jeer

Sentence: They turned to us and started jeering as we began our lap. Definition: make rude and mocking remarks, typically in a loud voice.

stabilize

Sentence: They will make sure that the sinkhole is completely stabilized and that there is zero chance of this ever happening again. Definition: support or hold steady and make steadfast, with or as if with a brace

remarkable

Sentence: They, along with our own remarkable middle school staff, have been working nearly round the clock since Tuesday morning. Definition: worthy of notice

rally

Sentence: This time it was the defense that sparkled the rally. Definition: (of troops) come together again in order to continue fighting after a defeat or dispersion.

lunge

Sentence: Tino lunged at Victor. Definition: a sudden forward thrust of the body, typically with an arm outstretched to attack someone or seize something.

brigade

Sentence: We joined some eighth graders in a kind of bucket brigade extending from the field down into the sinkhole. Definition: army unit smaller than a division

benefactor

Sentence: What will Arthur do for Erik, his sponsor, his benefactor, his ticket to the big time? Definition: a person who helps people or institutions (especially with financial help)